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Insane on the Plane? 8 Stretches
All you vacationers hitting the friendly skies — don't put up with stiff muscles and your backside falling asleep in your seat. When the flight attendants say it's safe to move about the cabin, take advantage! Here are some stretches you can do while sitting down, and some you can do in the aisle.
If You Bike, You Better Stretch
I know half of the country is covered with snow, but where I live many people were out riding their shiny, new Christmas bikes. While it is true that biking is considered to be kinder to the leg joints than running, this by no way means that if you ride you don't need to stretch. Biking works the entire leg and you really need to stretch out your legs both before and after your ride.
Stretch It: Hamstrings
If you have been doing a lot of walking, running, biking or hiking this summer, chances are your hamstrings could use a good stretch. Here's a sequence of stretches to loosen up your tight hamstrings.
Standing Forward Bend with Wrist Release - Place your hands on the mat, palms facing up with your fingertips facing you.
5 Stretches: After a Run
We all know how important it is to stretch out our muscles, especially after a run, so here's a series of five stretches I like to do.
Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch - From a Down Dog position (this is a great stretch for your calves too), step your right foot forward between your hands. Lower your left knee onto the ground (make sure it's a padded surface - fold up a towel or use a thin block if you're on bare floor).
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Stretch Your Stretching Knowledge
Stretching is one of the three essential elements of fitness, along with strength training and cardio. But many of us neglect the flexibility portion of our workouts. But do you know better?
Stretch It: Twisting Hip Flexor Stretch
A common complaint among runners and cyclists is tight hip flexors, the area in front of the hips above the quads. Here's one of my favorite ways to lengthen that area, while also getting a subtle spinal twist — two great stretches in one!
To learn how to get into this stretch, read more
Stretch It: Shin and Ankle Stretch
After long bike rides, my shins and the tops of my feet are often tight. All that flexing of my ankle and pulling up on the pedals to maximize my stroke takes its toll on this part of my body. Once I slip off my stiff cycling shoes, this is the first stretch I do.
Work It Girl: Reverse Arch Stretch
Constantly hovering over your keyboard, with your shoulders hunched over not only contributes to terrible posture, but can be a real pain in the neck and back. I know this stretch looks a little provocative and is reminiscent of FlashDance, but it is the antidote to a day of blogging.
- Sit on the edge of your chair.
Stretch It: Extended Puppy
Take a break to stretch your spine and shoulders with this relaxing stretch. Not only does it make your spine feel longer and your shoulders more open, but relaxing your head to the floor also helps relieve stress and tension.
This stretch looks a little sexier than others I've posted, so maybe do this one when you have a little privacy.
Stretch It: Easy Back Stretch
One thing I have learned from my years as a Pilates instructor is most folks don't twist enough. The spine likes to rotate. Here is a simple back stretch that feels great after running.
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